Case Studies

Emerging of Shadows

At first sight Prakasha Devi seems to be a normal housewife with impressions of time on her face and a new confidence of holding herself and her family together in the time of financial crisis and days of extreme poverty.

Prakasha Devi, mother of three daughters and a son, got her land back and today she is owner of a shop just because as in her own words 'parivartan pariyojana ne meri jindagi me parivartan la diya' (parivartan project has brought about a very drastic change in my life).

She belongs to a Brahmin family of Sikraudi, a small village in Hamirpur district of Bundelkhand region. Two years ago she borrowed Rs 2,000 by putting her land on mortgage for her daughter's marriage. Her husband was unemployed, weak and lean and unable to earn for the family. The family had to struggle to get daily meals. Since Prakasha Devi belonged to a Brahmin family, it was not possible for her to go out and work as a farm labour because of social constraints. Her land was on mortgage for the last seven years. As land was the only source of income, there were times when the entire family had to go hungry.

She said, "I always prayed to God that something should happen so that I could get my land back." Two years ago 'Ravi Self Help Group' was established under Parivartan project. This group collects small savings by SHG members. Prakasha Devi was the first to join the group. She came out of her concealment and started working as an active SHG member. When the group collected Rs 4,520/- from savings, Rs 2000 were given to Prakasha Devi to get her land back. In her own words 'Apni Zameen pakar mano humka naya jeewan mil gaya' (I got a new life after getting my land back).

The project also aims at developing the spirit of savings and making people empowered for self employment. Prakasha Devi also opened a shop by getting more savings from the project. Now she had a shop and a piece of land. Talking about the difference which she realizes in herself after joining the Parivartan project, she states, "Jab se in log bataun, her mahina kotedar gehoon den lag. Pehle gol kar jaat tha." (Previously I did not know how to talk to strangers. Ration card shop owner refused to give grain. But now after getting information through project members I have started asking for my right.) She further states that this was all because of the efforts made by the project team to improve the economic status of people especially the marginalised and deprived class, by introducing them to different income generation activities through SHGs and voluntary organisations.

Prakasha Devi who got her education up to class VIII, wants to make her village totally literate and is working with a project for women empowerment. Her son is studying in Kanpur and Prakasha Devi wants to make him a police officer. Pratima, the youngest daughter of Prakasha Devi is studying in class X and wants to be a doctor. These children, who came out of the clutches of poverty because of their mother's efforts and her strong will power as a result of projects initiatives for woman empowerment, are having dreams of a brilliant future in their eyes.

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